Community Bank Job Fair Leads to 22 New Hires and Adds Over $1.3 Million in Salaries and Benefits to the Tampa Bay Region

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Community Bank & Company welcomed 338 people to its Job Fair at St. Petersburg's Coliseum yesterday and 22 people came away with a job. Six people who responded to job fair advertisements were hired before the event and 16 were hired at the event itself. Salaries and benefits for the 22 people hired total over $1.3 million, changing individual lives but also adding significant economic activity to the region.

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Community Bank's parent company, CBM Florida Holding Co., was formed in 2008 and has been acquiring and recapitalizing local banks such as Community Bank of Manatee and First Community Bank of America bringing Community Bank branches to a total of 17 and reaching over $750 million in assets. CBM Florida Holding Company has also announced the acquisition (pending regulatory approval) of Clearwater's Old Harbor Bank which would push the number of Community Bank branches to 24 and total assets over $1 billion.

"Our goal is to be the largest, strongest and most capable community bank in the Tampa Bay market. With the acquisition of Old Harbor, we will have invested well over $80 million in the Florida banking system. This commitment has resulted in the preservation and growth of jobs in the area, and continuity of services to well deserving business and individual customers. Our status as a highly capitalized institution together with the fastest local loan approvals and commitment to customer service truly sets us apart," added CBM Florida Holding Company CEO Trevor Burgess.

CBM Florida Holding Company Chairman Marcelo Lima added, "I am thrilled that so many qualified team members will be joining Community Bank. Local, fast, responsive hiring and client service – that is what sets us apart as the region's best retail focused community bank."

"The job fair proved to be an efficient and effective way to hire highly qualified professionals so we can seamlessly provide top quality and first class service to our rapidly increasing numbers of clients," said Community Bank President Katie Pemble. "With these positions filled, we will have all the tools in place to reach our goal of becoming the best bank in the greater Tampa Bay area." According to Pemble, the team's commitment to quality has already paid dividends. In 2010 alone Community Bank made loan commitments of over $80 million.

Community Bank filled positions such as:

• Residential Lenders to make mortgage loans throughout the region
• Branch Tellers, Personal Bankers and Managers to help clients with their needs for checking, savings and money market accounts
• Commercial Relationship Managers to make loans of up to $15mm to the region's best businesses
• SBA Lenders with 7(a) and 504 knowledge and experience to help growing small and medium sized businesses
• Credit Underwriters to help quickly and efficiently manage the credit approval process
• Information Technology Experts to extend Community Bank's commitment to best in class technology
• Facilities Management Technicians

"We are excited that Community Bank continues to invest in our community. This job fair and the addition of so many jobs in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay area is an excellent example of economic recovery," added St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster.

"We are thrilled to be hiring in this economy. We believe that by investing in our community everyone – from our clients to our employees to our shareholders – will benefit," stated Community Bank Chairman and CEO Bill Sedgeman.

Community Bank will recruit, hire, train, and promote employees in all job titles without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, handicap, genetic information, marital or familial status, military or veteran status, ancestry or any other category protected by federal, state or local law. Community Bank operates a drug free workplace and employs only nonsmokers.

About Community Bank:

Community Bank is a local, independent bank that serves thousands of sophisticated savers and borrowers from 17 locations in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Charlotte and Pasco counties and online at www.communitybanknow.com. Community Bank is a leader in checking, savings and money markets, residential mortgages, business loans, SBA loan programs, and association and treasury services.

Community Bank services include:

• Full Service Checking, Savings and Money Market depository products for consumers and businesses
• Residential mortgages, from "30 years fixed" to "jumbo" products all with fast local decision making
• Business and commercial real estate loans of up to $15 million to help local businesses grow
• Small Business Administration loans of up to $5 million – Community Bank is a Preferred Lender and is consistently ranked as one of the region's top SBA lenders
• Association and Treasury Services – providing lock-box services to condominiums, doctors and other businesses who need to carefully track their accounts receivable

SOURCE Community Bank & Company